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Stories from a Dog Boarding Kennel

posted by: Julie McClure

Many of you may know that I own and operate a small dog boarding facility. Well, I have been doing this very entertaining job for upwards of twenty years now. One of the more rewarding aspects of kennel boarding is seeing the variety of breeds that come through my door. Not only do you get a broad spectrum in appearances, but quite a variety of temperaments, even within the same breed. Many of these dogs I just LOVE to see coming for a visit, while others, be it very few, I would rather they stayed at home. But, for the most part, we enjoy their antics, their visit with me and all the entertainment that they bring into my life. The nice part is that I can send them back home to their own families when the vacation is over.

People say how “bad” terriers can be and I do get dogs coming in that are supposed to be the worst kind, like the Jack Russell Terriers. This breed, and I do know about them, as I did show and breed them for twenty years, is one that wears a beautiful halo most of the time, but at least once a day, they let it drop to the ground, step on it, and toss it aside. The next time you look, they are sitting there all pretty with that halo in place as innocent as you please. Right now, I have “Sammy,” a new boarder to our kennel, who is an absolute treat. He runs outside for his morning business, while I mop out his run, fix his bed and breakfast and call him back in. After he has finished his business he will sit in the grassy yard watching me, cute as can be, then he’ll suddenly fly like the wind right at me and charge, skidding his feet around the corner, jumping back into his run. It’s like he can’t wait to get back inside, but not until he has thought about it for a couple of minutes first. Funny thing is he does this routine each and every time that he is on his turn outdoors. Once in his own run, he will go all the way into the outer part of his area, until I have totally finished ALL the dogs before he comes back to his bed and wags his tail at me until I give him a cookie.

Once in a while, I have a visit from the little Norfolk Terrier, “Chelsea”, who is all of 10 lbs soaking wet and about 8 inches off the ground. She is ALL TERRIER. She thinks that she is bossing each and every dog in the kennel, regardless if it’s a Chihuahua or a Great Dane. She is let out of her run for her turn outside and she stops at each kennel gate just to give every other dog a little growl and bark along the way. She seems to be telling them, “Don’t forget, I’m the boss around here” as she passes by. Yet, on the way back in after her outdoor time, she charges like the wind back to her bed, where she knows her breakfast is waiting. She guzzles it down like a vacuum cleaner, just in case the neighbour might take a notion to eat it first. They of course, cannot get to each other’s bed or dishes, but Chelsea thinks it’s safer if it’s totally out of sight and tucked into her belly.

I also have as a regular client a huge Staffordshire Terrier cross who looks like she could rip anything apart. She strolls in and out of the kennel to her turn outside, resembling a large, round barrel on legs. Yet, when one of the smaller dogs gives her so much as a bark as she passes their gate, her ears go down, this scared look comes over her face and she looks for me to help her get past that particular kennel run. I call her and give her a pat, reassuring her that it’s safe. What a big chicken she is. Once outside, she sits at the door and won’t budge until I go back out with her. I have to instruct her to go pee and finally, while I watch, she will do her business. She keeps coming back to my legs and leaning on me for a quick scratch and word of encouragement before she will finish, then she rushes past all the dogs who may bark at her till she gets back to her own bed. Once there, she barks non-stop until I give her a treat, then she calmly lies down and watches the performance of everyone else, quite content. She is large and bully looking, yet one of the rare, loveable chickens of the clientele.

I can’t tell you more about some of the other clients in this blog, as it will be far too long if I do. I may someday write a bit more about some of our other clients and antics that they get up to, when time permits.

So, bye for now and I hope you keep reading and enjoying our stories on www.DogandCollar.com.